Seaming roller mounting



Nov. 2, 1948. R. E; J. NoRD uis'r 7 2,452,596

SEAMING RGLLER MOUNTING Filed Dec. 5, 1.E)4.:' Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 2, 1948 UNITED STTES PATENT GF'FICE Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Maplewood, N. J assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 3, 1945, Serial No. 632: 291

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to can closing machines and the like and has particular reference to a movable rocker element of a seaming head having oppositely extending arms for carrying seaming-rollers, one of the arms being formed and preloaded, i-. e., put under spring tension, to render the: arm yieldable for effecting a. different seaming pressure for one of the rollers during a sealing operation.

The .present invention contemplates a rocker element for a seaming head having a pair of arms extending in opposite directions, one of the arms carrying a first operation seaming roller for performing a first seaming operation on a can, the other arm being adjustable for yieldably carrying-ase-cond operation seaming roller, the yieldable arm being selectively movable relative to the fixed arm so that a preloading or spring tension ing of the yieldable arm may be had to obtain a predetermined yieldable seaming pressure for the second operation seaming roller.

An object of the invention is the provision in a seaming head of a movable rocker element having oppositely extending arms for carrying seaming rollers, one of the arms being fixed as a rigid part of the element for carrying a first operation seaming roller, the other arm being formed as a yieldable arm for carrying a second operatien seaming roller, whereby a predetermined pressure may be applied to the second operation roller to effect the desired pressure sealing of the coverto the can.

Another object of the invention is the provislon in a rocker element of the character described of a yiel'dable spring arm which is preloaded as to potential seaming pressure by separating the arm from a stationary part of the holder and by holding it in a pressure loaded position, such holding of the spring tension'being brought about by interposing a pin in the space between the parts and by securing the pin in the holder in the desired adjusted position.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understoodfromthe following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure '1 is .a plan View showing the important parts of a can closing machine embodying the present invention with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a movable rocker element shown in Fig. .1; Land mgs.;3rand4 are enlarged sectional views taken .2 substantially. along the line -3-3 inilFlg. ishow-ing a yieldable arm before and after being pressure loaded.

As a preferred embodimentpf the present linvention the drawings disclose the important'par-ts of a hi'ghspeed closing machine including arotatable turret having a plurality of pockets. It is into these turret pockets that filled cans A withth'eir associate covers 3 are disposed while being clamped between :a rotatable lifter and a seaming chuck in alignment at each pocket'preparato'ry to being rotated and as an incident to sealing the assembled covers and cans.

In the present invention a -movable rocker element of a seaming head whichc'arries first and second operation seaming rollers preferably is interposed between two adjacent seaming chucks. In such an embodiment the first operation "seaming roller of the unit will operate against a can cover on one of the forward chucks and the second operation seaming roller of the unit will operate against'a partially sealed can cover on an adjacent seaming chuck to the rear. This type of seaming tends to speedup the flrst and second seaming steps with no lost time between seaming operations. Thus, the second operation seaming of an individual can "and cover on asingle seaming chuck performed by one seaming head follows directly the completion ofthe first operation seaming performedby an adjacent seaming head.

Referring now to Fig. '1 of the drawings a plurality of can covers A are assembled to filled cans B. There is one such can illustrated at the bottom near the center of Fig. '1 where Chuck and cover have been partially broken away. These assembled cans and covers are carried in individual pockets H of a rotatable sealing turret 12. Each can cover A is clamped onto its associate can B by 'a sealing chuck l3 which is mounted at the lower end of a vertical shaft 16. Shafts M are driven in unison bysuitable gears in the conventional manner from a "main centrally located and vertically disposed drive shaft l5.

{The turret P2 also is mounted on the shaft l5 which is driven ln any suitable manner in time with other movingparts of the machine. Thus, as "each can and cover is being rotated on-its own axis during a sealing operation it also is being revolved around the shaft 15.

The rocker elements of "the seaming heads hereinbe'fore mentioned aredesignated by the numeral it. There preferably-are six such rocker elements which "are located just outside of the turret l2 and are movable therewith. Eachrocker element 6 is mounted at the lower end of a rocker shaft l1. These rocker shafts preferably are positioned intermediate each of the turret pockets l i so that the seaming rollers carried in each rocker element may operate against a can and cover assembly disposed in two adjacent turret pockets.

The shafts I! are carried in suitable bearings in the upper part of the machine and which for the purpose of this invention need not be shown. These shafts are actuated in the conventional manner so that the ends of the rocker elements carrying the seaming rollers may be swung inwardly first in one direction and then in the other toward the seaming chucks l3 for the seaming operations.

Each movable rocker element l6 comprises a solid mid-portion 22 which surrounds the shaft ll (Fig. 1). A rigid or fixed arm 23 eXtends out from the mid-portion 22 and this arm carries a first operation seaming-roller 24. A cut-out or A slotted section 25 is provided near the end of the fixed arm 23 in which the first operation seaming roller is disposed on a pin 25 carried in the fixed arm (see also Fig. 2)

At the opposite end, each movable rocker element is form-ed with a yieldablearm 27 for carrying a second operation seaming roller 28. The yieldable arm El is formed as an integral part of a reduced section 32 which extends out from the fixed arm. The yieldable arm 27, like the fixed arm 23, also has a cut-out. or slotted section 33 wherein the second operation seaming roller 28 is disposed on a pin 34 carried in the yieldabl-e arm. Clamp bolts 35 are used. to grip both the pin Ed in the arm El and the pin 26 in arm 23,

this being a conventional construction.

The arm 2'! preferably is designed to operate under a predetermined yieidable pressure load in order to effect the proper tightness of seam in the sealing of the cans. As is usual in this type of sealing, the second operation seaming roller 28 has to pass over one or more additional wall thickness at the side seam region when the cans are made with lap or lock and lap side seams. The present invention contemplates a preloading of seaming pressure for the arm in a novel manner which provides for yielding beyond that pressure.

Incident to such a preloading the mid portion 22 of the movable rocker element is formed with a projection 36 and the yieldahle arm 2'! with a lug 3'! (Fig. 1). The opposing faces of the proiection 36 and the lug 3? preferably are spaced apart and are formed with a slight circular outline defining a seat 38 for a tapered pin 42 (see also Figs. 3 and 4). Such a pin is made selectively to the correct size so that when the yieldable arm is placed under a predetermined pressure load it will spread the projection 35 and the lug 3i apart a given amount. After the correct placing of the pin 42 in its desired inserted position the pin is welded in place onto the projection 36.

During the seaming operation the first opera tion seaming roller 24 carried by the fixed arm 23 moves inwardly against a can and cover assembly and forms a clinched or partial seam of the parts. gFigure i of the drawing shows a first operation seaming roller 2% moved in against a can cover B and performing such an initial operation. This is indicated at C. Such a first seaming action continues as the turret l2 rotates in a counterclockwise direction until the can and cover assembly reach a position D. At this latter position theinitial or first operation seaming is completed and the first operation seaming roller 24 has moved out of engagement with the can cover.

The movable rocker element it at such a time is at position E where it is opposite the two seaming chucks l3 at positions C and D. Both first and second seaming rollers 2t, 28 of the element at E are out of engagement with the can parts and both are in non-seaming positions. When the rocker element has further advanced and has come into its next position at F, its second operation roller 28 has swung into an operative sealin position against the can and cover assembly at the station D.

The sealing operation continues and as the can and cover come into position G, the active rocker element It then at H, is just completing its sealing operation by its second operation roller 23. J indicates the preceding sealed can which, it will be seen, is entirely free of either the rocker element at H or the preceding rocker elemen at K.

After passing through position J the sealedcans are ejected in the conventional manner to any suitable place of deposit. The emptied turret pockets l2 thereafter are refilled withother can and cover assemblies and the cycle of operations is repeated.

Considering now the yielding feature of the invention in more detail, attention is directed to the element 16 at the position H (Fig. 1) whose second operation roller 28 is still against the seam of the can. Here the seaming pressure is such as to result in a yielding action of the arm 21. This is shown in an exaggerated form, the yieldable arm 2'! being sprung outwardly with the lug 31 spaced apart from the tapered pin 42. Such an excessive pressure condition is brought on as the extra thickness of metal at the can side seam is being rolled into the end seam and under the maximum seaming pressure. The second operation seaming roller 28 is finally ironing out the the seam while the can and the can cover are being rotated with the seaming chuck l 3.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can closing machine for sealing covers chuck said rocker element being cut away to form a spring arm extending toward said chuck and having a free end spaced from said element, a seaming roller carried on the free end of said arm and having cooperation with said chuck for a sealing operation, and wedging means secured to said element in the free end space of said spring arm, said means engaging and holding the arm:-

in a preloading spring position to provide a predetermined sealing pressure effective at said roller during seaming.

2. In a can closing machine for sealing covers, onto cans, the combination of a seaming head, a-

rotatable chuck in said head for engaging and rotating covers superimposed on cans, a movable rocker element carried in said head adjacent said chuck said rocker element being cut away to form a stationary arm and a spring arm said spring arm extending toward said chuck and having a free end spaced from said element, a seaming roller carried on the spaced end of said spring arm and having cooperation with said chuck for a sealing operation, and a pin secured to said stationary arm in the free end space of said spring arm, said means engaging and holding the arm in a preloading spring position to provide a predetermined sealing pressure effective at said roller during seaming,

3. In a can closing machine for sealing covers onto cans, the combination of a seaming head, a rotatable chuck in said head for engaging and rotating covers superimposed on cans for sealing them, a rocker shaft carried in said head, a movable rocker element mounted on said shaft adjacent said chuck said rocker element being formed with a stationary arm and with a spring arm, the latter extending toward said chuck, a seaming roller carried on the end of said spring arm and having cooperation with said chuck, and a pin secured to said stationary arm and engaging the end of said spring arm and impressing in the arm a predetermined preloading spring pressure effective at said roller during seaming.

4. A can closing machine for sealing covers onto cans, the combination of a seaming head, a chuck in said head for clamping a cover on a superimposed can for a seaming operation, a movable rocker element carried in said head adjacent said chuck and including a spring arm having a free end spaced from said element, a seaming roller carried on the spaced end of said arm and having cooperation with said chuck for a seaming operation during relative movement between the chuck and the seaming head, and means secured to said element and engaging the free end of said spring arm for imposing a preloaded spring pressure therein, said preloaded spring pressure being determined by the distance between said spring arm end and said element and providing a predetermined sealing pressure efiective at said roller during seaming.

5. A can closing machine for sealing covers onto cans, the combination of a seaming head, a chuck in said head for clamping a cover on a superimposed can for a seaming operation, a movable rocker element carried in said head adjacent said chuck, said element including a fixed arm and a yieldable spring arm having a free end spaced from the element, a first operation seaming roller carried on said fixed arm, a second operation seaming roller carried on said spring arm said rollers having cooperation with said chuck during relative movement between the chuck and the seaming head, and wedging means secured to said fixed arm and engaged by the free end of said spring arm for imposing a preloaded spring pressure on the latter, said preloaded spring pressure being determined by the distance between said spring arm end and said element and providing a predetermined sealing pressure effective at said second operation seaming roller during seaming.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 665,397 Brenzinger Jan. 8, 1901 1,167,350 Brenzinger Jan, 4, 1916 1,372,953 Johnson Mar. 29, 1921 1,398,018 Hill Nov. 22, 1921 1,454,375 Dennison May 8, 1923 1,639,515 Lange Aug. 16, 1927 1,752,912 Kronquest Apr. 1, 1930 1,763,458 Coyle June 10, 1930 1,895,184 Douglass et a1 Jan. 24, 1933 2,308,296 Mills Jan. 12, 1943 

